Linda McMahon visits small businesses in Cromwell as part of Summer Jobs Tour

CROMWELL -- U.S. Sen. candidate Linda McMahon stopped off at Willowbrook Plaza Tuesday as part of her Summer Jobs Tour to meet business owners, hear their concerns and talk about her jobs plan.

Jay Polke, owner of Willowbrook Plaza and the Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe, invited McMahon to stop by before attending a luncheon at Melilli Restaurant.

"I knew she was coming to town, so I asked her to stop in and say hi," Polke said. "We need some fresh blood in Congress, someone in touch with the real world. Linda is someone who knows her way around, knows how to get things done and look out for the working people."

Jane Bouchard, of Windsor Locks, who is employed by Cromwell Cleaners Too in the plaza, said she too will be supporting McMahon in the fall.

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"I like her. Hopefully she can help out with the economy. It's tough out there," she said.

McMahon said it is the economy in general that is the foremost concern of small business owners throughout the state.

"All over the state, it's all everyone is talking about. I was in Granby recently -- same issue. That's why I developed my jobs plan. I like to hear what the people have to say," she said.

McMahon, a Republican, ran for the same seat in 2010 against Democrat Richard Blumenthal. She lost to Blumenthal in the general election by 12 percent.

"What I'm finding now is that I have more recognition, and I have the details about my jobs plan available," she said of the difference between this year's bid for the seat, compared to 2010.

McMahon said she is telling her story of her personal struggles before her business, the World Wrestling Entertainment., took off.

"I'm telling my story in more detail. People are starting to relate to the fact I walked in their shoes, from having no health insurance with a baby on the way to going through a bankruptcy. I'm grateful for the success of the business, but being in that position early on is what makes me want to come back," she said.

McMahon said she is seeing a greater response to her message and candidacy this time around.

"While walking around I'm being told by people that they didn't support me in 2010, but will vote for me this time...I think I'm having an impact, " she said.

The other hot-button issue of the campaign, the Affordable Care Act, better known as "Obamacare," is also a concern of McMahon's.

"I'm concerned about the Affordable Care Act if it's left in place. It will mean over 800,000 jobs lost, there's hidden taxes all throughout the bill and it will cost more money--upwards of $1 trillion. It's not accomplishing what it's set out to do," she said.

She said she supports health care reforms that will make health care affordable and accessible and would support reform measures that make health care accessible, portable and guaranteed renewable, so people cannot be dropped from a plan.

Allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines will help bring costs down, and tort reform is necessary, McMahon said.

Cara Ehlers and her 9-year-old daughter Samantha were at the plaza Tuesday and introduced themselves to McMahon, Cara telling her she has her support.

"I admire her," Ehlers said after meeting McMahon. "She's a working mother who came from nothing," she said.

Samantha said she wanted to meet McMahon because she's a wrestling fan.

"It was really exciting. I love wrestling so much and I learned so much about her," Samantha said.

McMahon will face former Congressman Chris Shays in a primary in August. Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman are Susan Bysiewicz and Chris Murphy.